Powder-tank closure.



, D. F. ASBURY.'

POWDER TANK CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED ocT.2s,I9I1.

1,281,92. Patented @on II5, I918.A`

DORSEY FROST ASBURY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT lOIE COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR `rIO UNITED STATES ORDNANCE COMPANY, 0F WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF vk(ZOLUlllBllA,

A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA.

POWDER-TAN K CLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

Application led October 28, 1917. Serial No. 198,570.

exact description of the invention, such asv will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

' My invention relates to powder tank closures, and is particularly designed as an improvement of the closure illustrated and described in U. S. Letters Patent No.1,243,974

granted to John N. Powers and Abner Y.

Leech, Jr., Oct. 23, 1917.

The particular purpose of my invention is to simplify the production and materially` reduce the cost of manufacture of the locking arms described and shown in the aforementioned Patent N01 1,243,974. To this end I construct the arms by stamping them from a metal blank in such manner that adjacent arms will be mutually connected bea Sealing surface 13. Provided on the ring y tween their outer and innerl ends and the latter left free and spaced apart with yrespect to each other.

In describing my invention reference will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference denote corf responding parts in the several views and.

in whichy Figure 1 is a vertical sectionthrough a powder tank closure embodying my inven-` tion, the closure being shown in locked position;

Fig. 2, a plan View' of the closure, the same being shown in unlocked position and Fig. 3, a plan view of my improved locking arm structure detached'from the closure. Referring'to the drawing 10 indicates the Nippel' end of a powder tank and 11 the top ring cxrried thereby. This ring 11 isprovided with an annular rib 12 over which the upper end of the tank 1Q is trained to form 11 at predetermined spacedintervals are inwardlydirected bearing ledges 14 for a purpose that will presently appear. While I have shown four bearing ledges 14 it will be apparent that this number can be increased according to the particular circumstances at hand. The cover element of the closure is indi-cated at 15 and is provided on its under .duce the cost of manufacture.

centrally on the cover 15 is an upwardly exl side and at its periphery With an annular groove 16 having seated therein a gasket 17 adapted to coperate with the sealing sur.

face 13.-

The lockingdevice for the cover 15 includes, a locking armstructure of the type illustrated in Fig. 3' and which I `form by stamping aplurality of locking arms 18 .from a blank of spring metal so as to provide mutual connections 19 between adjacent arms slightlyinward of their outer ends and leaving the inner ends of said arms free and spaced apart with respect to each other. By this process I am enabled to form all the arms necessary for a given closure with one operation and thereby both facilitate the production of such arms and materially re- Mounted tending threaded stud 20 which passes between the inner ends of the arms 18. Threaded on the stud 20 is a'- nut 21 and interposed between this nut and the arms 18 is a washer 22 whereby the rotation of the nut 21 will not produce excessive' wear of the arms 18.

In applying the closure the outer ends of the arms 18 are inserted between the ledges 14 and after the gasket 17 engages the surfacer12 the arms 18 are rotated so as to dispose their outer ends beneath respective ledges 14. The nut 21 is then rotated to move the same inwardly which will force the inner ends of the arms 18 in the direction of the cover andiiex and energize said arms, which latter and the connections 19 then act on the cover 15 adjacent its outer edge tc force the gasket 17 into eii'ective sealing eugagement with' the surface 13.

I desirably provide the closure with handle 23 whose ends are pivotally engaged in eye members 24 carried respectively by pivotally disposed Aarms 18 as clearly shown in Fig.4 2. l A

What is claimed is:V

1. In a powder tank closure, the combination of a sealing surface, a cover coperating with the sealing surface', a locking member for forcing the cover into engagement with the sealing surface, said member comprising a plurality of mutually connectedspring arms having their outer ends in engagement with a part of the tank body outwardly of the cover and their inner ends free, and means acting against the inner' ends of said arms to force the same inwardly and create closing pressure on the cover.

2. In a powder tank closure,the combination of a top ring, a sealing surface, a cover coperating with the sealing surface, a locking member for forcing the cover into engagement with the sealing surface, said member comprising a 'plurality of spring arms/each of which is mutually connected with the arms on either side thereof and having their outer ends'in engagement with the top ring and their inner ends free, said mutual connections being disposed inwardly of the outer ends of said arms, and means acting against the innerends of Said arms to force the same inwardly and create closing pressure on the cover. l

3. In a powder tank closure, the combination of a top ring, a sealing surface, a cover coperating with the sealing surface, a locking member for forcing the cover into engagement with the vsealing surface, said member comprising aplurality of mutually connected spring arms engaging the top ring outwardly of the cover, the connections bementwith a part of the tank body outwardly' of the cover, and means supported by the depressed center of the cover for bending the inner portionsof said arms into the space aorded by said depressed portion to thereby energize the arms and create sealing pressure on the cover.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DORSEY FROST ASBURY. Witnesses:

HENRY T. BRIGHT, IRENE L. LEEGH. 

